The picture below was taken early this week (7th March) over the Derbyshire Peak District, and shows crystal clear blue skies and excellent visibility.

This was the result of a northerly air mass over previous days, bringing 'clean' and relatively dry air down from the Arctic regions. Pressure had then built, dispersing any residual fronts, and the descending air aloft negated any convective daytime cumulus cloud.

Over the next few days into next week, pressure will also build, and the air will be relatively dry, but the view is more likely to appear like the picture below (taken in early spring a few years ago). You can see the atmosphere is much more hazy and the distant horizon lacks any definition.

This is often the result of an east to south-easterly air mass, which has its origins over continental Europe. The air has a greater amount of industrial pollutants within it, and this is then added to UK pollutants which will tend to stagnate beneath anticyclonic conditions and light winds, creating the low-level haze.

As high pressure remains in place, air will tend to very slowly descend through the atmosphere. This warms the upper level air, forming a temperature inversion above the surface.

Somewhat 'cleaner' high level air will slowly percolate to lower levels, and some of the higher mountain peaks of Britain will then 'stick out' above this haze, and can experience stunning visibility and clear air above a hazy layer below - this can give a sunburn surprise for the unwary!

Meanwhile the haze remains trapped at low levels, giving a rather drab appearance to the sky, and this will remain in place until there is a marked change of weather type. Haze can be dispersed by a change in air mass, increased wind flow to mix the air, or simply rain to wash it out of the air.

So it may be a dry, fairly bright outlook next week, but if you do see sunshine, don't necessarily expect glorious blue skies.